Whether you need to renew your passport or file a change of address, FirstGov.gov, the U.S. government’s official Web portal, is your trustworthy, one-stop source for online government information and services. And to make it easier and faster for you to locate the resources you need, FirstGov.gov has been enhanced with several new user-friendly features and renamed USA.gov.

Douglas County, Ga., Jan. 18, 2007 — The Douglas County Taxpayer’s Coalition (DCTC) is seeking sponsors to a bill that will restrict the way Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) referendums are conducted. (Georgia Code 48-8-111)

These recalls were issued this week from Jan. 14 to Jan. 18 by various federal and state agencies.

TEETHERS POSE CHOKING HAZARD

Mid-winter waterbird survey of Georgia’s barrier islands set for Monday, Jan. 22

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (Jan. 19, 2007) — Hawk-eyed birding experts will canvass the shoreline of Georgia’s barrier islands Monday, Jan. 22, to record observations of waterbirds for a survey coordinated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) and Atlanta Audubon.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (January 19, 2007) — The Georgia Hunters for the Hungry (GHFTH) is a program through which deer, donated by hunters, become nutritious venison to benefit those who need it the most.

FORSYTH, Ga. (January 19, 2007) — The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) returns for its tenth season Feb. 16-19, 2007. The National Audubon Society, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, and the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (DNR/WRD) invites everyone to count birds with a buddy throughout Georgia this winter.

Below is the February 2007 Calendar from Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites. More information is available at www.gastateparks.org or 1-800-864-7275.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (January 16, 2007) — Georgia residents who have purchased a wildlife license plate for their vehicle can be proud that they have helped support the conservation of many different plant and animal species in the state.

ATLANTA – With the state on a firm foundation, Governor Sonny Perdue Wednesday (Jan. 10) delivered his annual State of the State Address before a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly.

ATLANTA – [Monday] afternoon [Jan. 8] Governor Perdue was sworn in by Georgia Supreme Court Justice Harold Melton at Philips Arena for his second term as Georgia’s 81st Governor. In his Inaugural Address the Governor laid out his long-term vision for Georgia in what he called a “State of the Future” address.

ATLANTA, January 8, 2007 –– The Georgia Public Service Commission has published the January natural gas marketer prices on the Commission website, www.psc.state.ga.us, along with an “apples to apples” comparison of rates and a total bill comparison showing the differences among marketer rate plans.

Escape to “Wine Weekends in The Woods” At The Lodge At Smithgall Woods February 9-11, February 16-18, and February 23-25, 2007

Sweetheart of a Deal Available for Valentine’s Day

Georgia (January 5, 2007) – If love is in the air this Valentine’s Day, there is no better place to catch some of it than in the great outdoors. With Georgia State Park Lodges’ “Sweetheart of a Deal,” couples are invited to escape to nature for a weekend getaway to celebrate this romantic holiday.

These recalls were issued this week from January 1 to January 4 by various Federal and State agencies.

ATV NOS KIT BOTTLES CAN BURST

The City of Peachtree City has forms available for qualifying senior citizens to register for the 2007 Senior Homestead Exemption. The annual exemption, which applies to Peachtree City homeowners age 65 and over who earn less than $30,000 per year, was approved by voters in November 2005.

[Atlanta, GA — Oct. 20, 2006] –– Sixteen stand-alone plans that fill the coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit will be available to Georgia’s Medicare beneficiaries in 2007, compared to seven in 2006.

These recalls were issued this week from October 15 to October 19 by various federal and state agencies.

Starbucks’ coffee brewers pose fire hazard

Below is the November 2006 Calendar from Georgia's State Parks & Historic Sites. More information is available at www.gastateparks.org or 1-800-864-7275. During 2006, Georgia State Parks will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with several commemorative events throughout the state. These are indicated with a 75th Anniversary logo.

MORROW — Secretary of State Cathy Cox announced the release of a new version of the Georgia Archives’ popular Virtual Vault. “The Virtual Vault is a portal to some of the state’s richest historical records, and today’s release makes access even easier,” said Cox.

Governor Perdue proclaims the opening day of firearms deer season as “TIP” day in Georgia

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (October 17, 2006) - Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed a proclamation designating Saturday, October 21, 2006, the opening day of modern firearms season for deer hunting, as Turn In Poachers (TIP) Day in Georgia. The mission of TIP, Inc., a non-profit organization, is to protect wildlife from poachers by increasing public support for wildlife law enforcement, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

By Paul D. Barnes
Atlanta Regional Commissioner
Social Security Administration

If you are planning an early 2007 retirement, now is the time to contact Social Security. Here’s why: we generally encourage people to notify us about three months before the month in which they plan to retire. If you are planning to retire in 2007 and you want your monthly payments to start in January, you can do it now – in October – and get the process completed before the start of the busy holiday season. Your monthly payments will then begin on time in 2007.

These recalls were issued from Oct. 8 to Oct. 12 by various federal and state agencies.

BLACK & DECKER BLOWER/VACUUMS CAN OVERHEAT

ATLANTA, October 10, 2006 –– The Georgia Public Service Commission has published the October natural gas marketer prices on the October 2006 pricing page on the Commission website, www.psc.state.ga.us, along with an “apples to apples” comparison of rates and a total bill comparison showing the differences among marketer rate plans.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is advising Georgians to check their freezers and refrigerators for recalled ground beef products that may be contaminated with a dangerous form of E. coli bacteria.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (October 6, 2006) - Sportsmen and women who participate in shooting sports or hunting may be more aware of firearms safety issues than most people, but the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages all hunters to review firearms safety tips before heading out into the woods for firearms season. Last year there were 51 hunting incidents, 24 of which involved firearms.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (October 6, 2006) - White-tailed deer are the most popular game animal in Georgia, and since 96 percent of deer hunters pursue this species using modern firearms, they eagerly anticipate the opening day of firearms deer season on Saturday, Oct. 21. Firearms season in the Northern Zone runs through Jan. 1, 2007 and in the Southern Zone, the season runs through Jan. 15, 2007. Last year, 228,848 licensed hunters harvested 274,175 deer using modern firearms, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

SCUBA REGULATORS POSE DROWNING HAZARD

Scubapro® is recalling Scubapro® MK 20 First Stage Regulators sold
nationwide from January 1996 to December 2001. Over-tightening of the Yoke

Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Auxiliary will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, Oct. 12, from noon until 5 p.m. It will be held in Building 1279 – 1279 Highway 54 West, just west of the main hospital on Highway 54 -- on the third floor, Conference Room C.

These recalls were issued this week from Aug. 20 to Aug. 24 by various federal and state agencies.

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Reservation status/reminders now available

Customers who have a scheduled road test reservation with the Department of Driver Services (DDS) may now access their reservation information on-line and even request an e-mail reminder via the DDS’ Web site, www.dds.ga.gov.